Cover suspension device



y 11, 1967 E. E. MASTERSON E' I'AL 3,330,612

COVER SUSPENSION DEVICE Filed July 16, 1965 3 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORJEARL EMASTERSON HAROLD M SHNEIDER JOHN.J.MCORMACK ATTORNEY COVERSUSPENSION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 16, 1965 INVENTORS EARL E.MASTERSON HAROLD M.SHNE|DER 1 l g" JOHN J.MCORMACK ATTORMEI UnitedStates Patent Ofi ice 3,330,612 Patented July 11, 1967 3,330,612 COVERSUSPENSION DEVICE Earl E. Masterson, N ewtonville, and Harold M.Shneider,

Weston, Mass., assignors to Honeywell Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., acorporation of Delaware Filed July 16, 1965, Ser. No. 472,517 12 Claims.(Cl. 312319) The present invention relates to closure means forprocessing apparatus, and more particularly, to articulaaed cover meansand suspension means therefor,

The human operator is not yet expandable for attending data processingmachines. Thus, machines, such as High Speed Printers and the like arecustomarily provided with cover means adapted to, among other things,protect attendants from the annoyance and possible hazards of whirlingmachinery, flying dust, noise and the like. Such covers, of course, alsoprotect the machinery, such as from ambient dirt, grit, etc.Consequently, it is commonly necessary to provide such machinery withcover means which is effective in covering the apparatus and yet isnonetheless easily accesible, to and moveable by, attendants. Suchcovers must characteristically be simple and convenient to operate witha minimum of exertion and strain; be hazard-free, compact and the like.The present invention is direction to an improved bi-part cover for HighSpeed Printing Machinery and the like which meets these objectives.

A common shortcoming associated with such data processing apparatus andits cover is that either the cover encloses the machinery imperfectly orelse impairs accessibility. For instance, some such covers provide amere top-closure over apparatus which is otherwise surrounded by fixedwalls and thus relatively inaccesible except from the top. For instance,a common problem associated with the operation and servicing of HighSpeed Printers is front-accessibility, there being a number of operatingparts and maintenance points which are conveniently accessible only fromthe front. The present invention provides an articulated, bi-partcorner-cover for such printers and associated devices which alleviatesthe foregoing problems and also gives improved machineaccessibility,providing a closure which effectively constitutes a removable cover overtop and side portions. Thus it is thus an object of the invention toprovide cover means which addresses the above problems. Another objectof the invention is to provide such a cover means which is convenientlymanipulated by attendants. Still another object is to provide such acover means which provides a removable combination top and side closureand provides improved machine accessibility and convenience.

Another problem associated with apparatus like the above-mentionedHigh-Speed Printers and their associated covers, is the problem ofcover-stability. It is at best annoying, and a worst unsafe, for amachine cover to, of itself, seek equilibrium positions other than thosein which the operator leaves them. Such a tendency is the commonlyobserved instability of sprung covers which, when opened somewhat by anoperator (to some degree intermediate open and closed exremes), willseek to reclose themselves, mashing fingers, etc. A similar drawback isthat, when opened slightly, other sprung covers seek to fly upward.Either type of cover is unstable at' positions intermediate itsexcursion extremes. The present invention provides an articulated covermeans having an improved suspension system which counter-balances it soas to be stable and tend neither to fall back to a closed position norfly upward away from the operator, except close to extreme positions.For instance, a printer attendant, frequently a frail girl, when openingthe top cover, often has to dodge it as it flies upward seeking thefully-open position. This action is hazardous, tending at times tostrike overhanging elbows, chins and the like. The invention avoids thisproblem by providing a cover suspension which keeps the cover undercontrol at all times. More particularly, this suspension system includesa spring-loaded arrangement for bi-part corner-covers (whichcharacteristically have a complex, shifting center of gravity), whicharrangement acts to maintain the cover in upraised equilibrium atvirtually all raised positions, except at open and closed extremes, thusexhibiting an intermediate equilibrium. It will be recognized by thoseskilled in the art that, due to the elusive center of gravity providedby the swinging action of the cover apron, such a bi-part, articulatedstructure offers problems in counterbalancing suspension design if theabove objects are to be achieved. The double spring arrangement of theinvention has been found to provide a simple answer to this problem.

Further this improved suspension means has greater safety in that itapplies only gentle opening or closing forces at the extremesrespectively of cover excursion, and likewise requires moderate openingor closing forces. The spring suspension means provided according to theinvention is arranged to comprise bi-part pairs of cooperatinghorizontal and vertical spring means adapted to coact so as to reinforceone another and oppose one another at appropriate points in theexcursion of the bi-part, articulated cover whereby to provide theabovementioned intermediate equilibrium together with a slight openingand a slight closing bias. The closing-bias is conveniently sufficientto provide a latching action against accidental opening of the cover byvibration.

An angular guide means is so formed and so mounted between thecover-apron and the sides of the printer that it provides a self-lockingaction holding the cover open safely. This also provides a safety checkagainst accidental dislodgment by requiring a prescribed unlockingmanipulation to unlock the latched cover. Moreover, the inventioncombines the features of a side cover portion, or apron, together with anovel angular guide therefor which acts to lock the cover open,supporting it for added safety and stability. This guiding support meansalso serves to guide the apron portion during movement of the cover soas to maintain it at a prescribed safe attitude, kept trimmed againstthe top, while being guided to clear machine walls and to seat properly.This guide also serves to prevent this apron portion from flyingoutwardly to annoy, and perhaps injure, a nearby operator during covermovement.

The foregoing object and novel features of the invention are provided ina preferred embodiment of the invention which includes an articulatedbi-part corner cover means including a top portion and a side, or apron,portion; plus spring-urged suspending and positioning means coupledthereto and apron guide means which also serves to lock the cover open.

The foregoing and other characteristic objects and features of noveltyare pointed out with particularity in the following claims and form apart of the present specification. For a better understanding of theinvention, its advantages and specific objects attained with its use,referrence should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter wherein is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment ofthe invention.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote likeparts:

FIGURE 1 shows, in perspective view, a preferred embodiment of theinvention as employed for providing a removable corner cover for a HighSpeed Printer apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one suspension arrangement forthe embodiment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top enlarged fragmentary view of the coupling arrangementbetween the two suspension means in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the cover arrangement of FIGURE 1,slightly enlarged and shifted somewhat in attitude, i.e. fully-open.

Referring now to the figures, and especially to FIG- URE 1, there isshown a preferred embodiment of the invention as employed in High SpeedPrinting apparatus 1, such as used in connection with data processingsystems. Functionally, this embodiment represents an arrangement fortransporting continuous paper forms (not shown) through a print head 4positioned within, and enclosed by the printer chassis, or frame portion2 of printer 1. Frame or chassis 2 includes a pair of side walls 2', 2,and a rear wall 2", rigidly inter-connected to form a rigid, box-likeenclosure for containing the print head 4. It will be understood thatthe top of printer 1, should be open at times for accessibility duringoperation and maintenance thereof. Similarly, for the machine frontsection, i.e. Section F, between sides 2, which provides uniqueaccessibility to some parts, such as machine control Knob C. Thus, aremovable cover means 3 provides a closure for the top and frontportions of chassis 2 being pivotally attached, by hinge means 12, tothe top of wall 2". Cover 3 is shown partly-open in FIGURE 1 as iscommonly desirable, such as when an operator wants to manipulate controlC without troubling to extend the cover fully open and lock it.

A feature of the invention is that cover 3 comprises a bi-part,articulated arrangement comprising a lateral, or front closure, portion(or apron) 5, in addition to the more usual top cover portion 6. Asexplained below, apron 5 is pivotably connected to the front of top 6 byhinge 53 so as to be rotatable about an edge thereof as indicated by thearrows in FIGURE 1. Thus, apron 5 is arranged to seat coveringly acrossthe front lateral portion (F) of machine 1 when cover 3 is closed(indicated in FIGURE 2); while being suspended to swing inwardly andcompactly against the bottom of top 6 as it approaches the extreme openposition (dotted-line in FIG- URE 4). Top 6 include, a windowarrangement 6" for observing the condition of printer 4 when the top isclosed. Top 6 also includes a base portion 6 for attaching the coversuspension means as indicated below. A pair of angular guides 7, 7 causeapron 5 to so follow top 6, as seen below.

Adjacent the rear of base 6 there are coupled a pair of resilientsuspension means 8, 8 (one on each side) such as by attachment to a pairof brackets 61, 61' (the latter not shown). Suspension 8, 8 effectivelyjoin cover 3 to chassis 2 in a somewhat pivotable manner for theconvenient manipulation thereof. According to a feature of theinvention, suspensions 8, 8' additionally provide a two position-seekingcover suspension as hereafter indicated. Thus, as indicated best inFIGURES 2 and 4, suspension arrangement 8 (suspension arrangement 8 isidentical) comprises a pair of resilient supports, namely a verticalsupport 90 and an oblique (or horizontal) support 80. Horizontal support80 is mounted from one side wall 2' by attachment to bracket 21projecting therefrom, and vertical support 90 is mounted from rear wall2" by attachment to bracket 23, projecting therefrom. The constructionand operation of supports 80, 90 are somewhat similar, as seen below.

Horizontal support 80 thus comprises a rigid, longitudinal, cylindricalshaft 81, having a threaded portion 81' at one end thereof on which isthreadably mounted a forked coupling 87 together with an associatedpositioning nut 85. Shaft 81 is inserted through an oversized (forpivoting) bore at its other end in bracket 21. A helical coilcompression spring 83 is arranged to surround shaft 81 intermediate theends thereof, being compressed against bracket 21 by nut/washer coupling89 threada-bly mounted on threaded shaft-end 81'. Coupling 87 isprovided with a pair of registering bores in the forked portions 87', 87thereof (FIGURE 3), these bores being adapted to journably receive axle63 therein for rotatably coupling support to a fixed bracket 61 attachedto cover base 6'.

Somewhat similarly, a vertical support comprises a longitudinal,relatively cylindrical shaft 82 having a threaded portion 82 along areduced end 88 thereof, end 88 being reduced cross-sectionally to fitbetween the forked portions 87 of coupling 87, as indicated in FIG- URE3, and being apertured to journably receive axle 63 for rotatablycoupling support 90 to bracket 61. Opposite end 88, shaft 82 is insertedinto a registering bore through a portion of a bracket 23 (affixed towall 2") for sliding positioning therein. A suitable helical coilcompression spring 84 is positioned to surround the intermediate portionof shaft 82 being compressed against bracket 23 by nut/washer coupling86 which is screwed along threaded shaft-length 82'.

It is a feature of the invention that suspension springs 83, 84 maycomprise standard spring structures without need for special working ordesign thereof, As seen below vertical spring 84 is preferably selectedso that with a moderate bias thereon (from compressing nut 86), it willbarely support cover 3 when fully opened (dottedline position, FIGURE 4)and will not tend to open it when closed (FIGURE 2). A die type springof rectangular spring steel stock, having almost 4 turns/ in. and aspring constant of about 41 lb./in. has been found suitable.

Horizontal spring 83 is adapted to coact with vertical spring 84 inseveral ways. Spring 83 assists spring 84 to gently urge cover 3fully-open only when it closely approaches this position; otherwiseholding it balanced for intermediate equilibrium thereof. Spring 83 isalso arranged to oppose spring 84 adjacent the closed position of cover3, overriding it to gently urge the cover closed and hold it so.Preferably, spring 83 is biased by compressing nut 89 to exert little orno force at fullyopen position and to contribute an increasing verticalcomponent (according to angle a between shafts 81, 82), to resist theupward movement of cover 3. With an angle a of about 70 degrees, aspring 83 of rectangular spring steel having about 4 turns/in. and aspring constant of about 82 lb./in. (as adjusted for bias), has beenfound suitable for use with the above-specified exemplary verticalspring 84. A similar set of supports 80', 90 (not shown) comprise thesuspension arrangement 8 at the other side of cover 3, opposite theabove-described suspension 8.

It has been asserted that, as a feature of the invention, supports 80coact with supports 90 to maintain cover 3 in intermediate equilibrium,except adjacent the fullyopen position where springs 84, 83 both urgecover 3 open and except adjacent the closed position where they areopposed, spring 84 urging cover 3 closed and keep- .ing a latching biasthereon. Horizontal support 80 is maintained in prescribed relation withthe pivot axis for cover 3 to effect this dual homing action. That is,support 80 is arranged so that spring 83 will exert its thrust alongprescribed directions with respect to the join-line between pivot hinge12 and pivot axle 63 to urge cover 3 in opposite directions at oppositeexcursion extremes thereof. More particularly, support 80 is arrangedand disposed relative to the join between axes 12 and 63 as shown inFIGURE 4, so as to urge cover 3 in such a direction as to rotate itcounter-clockwise in its open position and in most other positions,except adjacent its closed position. Contrariwise, then cover 3 isdepressed to a point close to its closed position (FIGURE 2), axle 63drops so that its line of join with hinge 12 throws the thrust fromsupport 80 oppositely. That is,

rality of delicately balanced spring rates without delicate adjustmentsfor each change in load and without using costly, specially-prescribedsprings; using instead an arrangement that allows the provision ofstandard type springs. It is further preferred to use a pair of springsin each spring suspension arrangement since although a single springmight be employed to provide opening and closing forces at differentpoints along the covers excursion, the dual spring arrangement moresimply and conveniently provides the above-mentioned intermediateequilibrium. When a single spring is used it will be understood that itshould be arranged to provide vertical and oblique thrust components, tobe biased by the closing motion of cover 3 as indicated above; theoblique (or horizontal) component being preferably adapted to aid thevertical component except adjacen closedposition where it shifts tooppose it and instead help the cover weight, urging it downward. Ofcourse other resilient suspension means may be used to perform thisfunction. In some cases tension springs, torsion bars or the like may beemployed as understood by those skilled in the art. Use of two springs,advantageously isolates some of the counter-balancing spring action fromthe lock-down spring action, eliminating the need for complex designrequirements necessary to incorporate these in a single spring and forfussy adjustments to adapt a single spring to various loads, such asdifferent weight covers.

As noted above, apron 5, besides being pivotably hinged from cover-top6, is coupled in prescribed spaced relation to sides 2', 2' by a pair ofsimilar angular guide means 7, 7' (the latter not shown). As bestindicated in FIGURE 4, guide 7 is pivotably mounted atop theintermediate section side 2' at bracket 25, afiixed thereon. Similarly,guide 7 is pivotably journaled on a bracket 51 fixed dependingly fromapron portion 5 at a prescribed location thereon. It will be apparentthat the structure and arrangement of guides 7, 7' act to closingly seatapron 5 adjacent the front (Zone F) of chassis 2 and also to maintainapron 5 in prescribed compact relation to cover-top 6 as cover 3 israised. Guides 7, 7' thus prevent any erratic free-swinging of apron 5and keep it somewhat compactly folded into follow top 6 providinggreater visibility of, and access to, print head 4 as well as reducinghazards for the operator. It will be apparent that guide 7 (guide 7' issubstantially identical) is angularly conformed so as to cause apron 5to be driven radially outwardly during the downward (closing) exursionof cover 3 so as to clear the front portion of sides 2' and also torequire no guiding action by the operator. Thus, the length and angularconformation of guide 7 will be dictated by the size of cover 3 inrelation to sidewalls 2', 2' and by the desired angular position atwhich cover 3 is to be locked open.

According to another feature of the invention, the structure of guides7, 7' also facilitates the use thereof as a locking means for cover 3 inits extreme open position (FIGURE 4, dotted line). As shown indottedline, guide 7 is adapted to conformingly engage base 6, fittingsmoothly there against, to support cover 3. That is, guide 7 ispivotably coupled to apron 5 and to associated sidewall 2' on pivotaxles 16, 14, respectively, to have a prescribed angular relation to thejoin-line between hinge 53 (piovt axis of apron 5) and sidewall pivotaxle 14 (stationary pivot for guide 7). More particularly, guide 7 isdisposed so that the join (i.e. straight line) between pivot axles 16,14 coincides with that between axle 14 and hinge 53 at a prescribednear-open cover position, adjacent the fully open position thereof. This.near-open position is indicated in FIGURE 4, the guidecover arrangementis approaching this position of coincidence of pivot-joins. At thiscover position, if any of the cover elements such as top 6, apron 5 orguide 7 is moved slightly to rotate cover 3 counter-clockwise abouthinge 12, the cover will tend to assume a locked open at -titude, asindicated by the dotted line position of guide 7 and apron 5. Cover 3will then be locked open against accidental impact, jostling, or likeforces tending to urge .it clockwise and downward (closed). That is,cover 3 is kept from being accidentally dislodged and falling upon themachinery and adjacent attendant, by the action of guide 7 which willtend to resist (with guiding apron 5), clockwise forces upon top 6. Itis a safety feature that the unlocking of cover 3 from its locked openposition, requires that an operator first pull apron 5 outwardly beforethe cover can be dropped. That is, as soon as the .join between pivotaxle 16, 14 passes beyond the join between axle 14 and hinge 53 so thatclockwise thrusts on top 6 throw guide 7 clockwise, notcounterclockwise, the cover may then be depressed toward its closedposition under complete safe control. The top angular portion 70 ofguide 7, is thus formed to provide an extended flat surface againstwhich top 6 may rest, providing extra resistance to accidentaldislodgement and falling of cover 3 without positive unlockingmanipulations. It will be understood that top 6 may rotate clockwisesomewhat when guide 7 is moved from the full-line to the dottedlineposition in FIGURE 4.

The operation of spring suspension means 8, 8 and guides 7, 7 will besomewhat apparent from the foregoing description, but will be summarizedas follows: In the Closed (or Down) position (FIGURE 2) of cover 3,horizontal spring support has assumed one of two opposite cover-biasingstates, i.e. the close-cover state, tending to resist upward forcesurging cover 3 upward. Thus, if the cover is opened only very slightlyfrom the position shown in FIGURE 2 (e.g. accidentally nudged), thecover-torquing component of force from spring 83 will (overriding spring84) coact, with the Weight of the cover, to gently but firmly urge itback to a closed position. However, this closed-cover force isexperienced only during a very minor portion of the cover excursion. Atother times, spring 80 assumes a gradation of (decreasing) open-coverbias states and is thus arranged to balance the cover weight and bias ofvertical spring 84 for equilibrium during the major portion of theopening excursion of cover 3. Thus, cover 3 may be opened onlypartially, such as indicated in FIGURE 1 and will remain in equilibrium,safely stable in whatever semiopen attitude the operator leaves it.

Where spring support 80 is bi-directional, however, spring isunidirectional, though both are position-based (compression increases ascover drops). As best seen in FIGURE 4, vertical spring 84 will resistany closing forces (urging cover 3 downward) and be effective to holdthe cover open until it has been moved through a prescribed minorexcursion distance, whereupon the cover weight and the verticalcomponent of horizontal spring 83 will cooperate to exactly balancespring 84. Thus, if the operator moves apron 5 to unlock cover 3 andthen depresses cover-top 6 only spring 84 will gently urge it back tothe extreme-open position (indicated in FIG- URE 4). However, as in thecase of horizontal springs 83 (83'), springs 90 (90') cannot effect thiscover-translation except at an extreme excursion :position, i.e., closeto fully-open.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to the preferred embodiment indicated above, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and details,in materials and dimensions and the like may be made, with certainfeatures substituted for or deleted, without departing from the spirtand scope of the invention, as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a data processing machine having a frame including three sidesdefining an operating opening, the combination therewith of anarticulated bi-part closure for said opening and comp-rising:

a top, a side apron, and pivot means suspending said apron pivotablyfrom said top; hinge means pivotably mounting said top from one of saidsides; resilient counter balancing suspension means coupling said top toat least one of said other sides so as to adapt said closure forintermediate equilibrium at all excursion points thereof except adjacentthe excursion extremes; and guide means coupling said apron to at leastone of said other sides pivotably so as to seat closingly against aportion thereof so as to be guided to follow said top completely duringmovement thereof.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said suspension means isarranged to provide bi-directional resilient torque components arrangedto balance the weight of said closure during most of the movingexcursion thereof, except adjacent the closed-down position, whereat aresilient closing-thrust is invoked.

3. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein said suspension means isarranged to provide an opening torque and an intermittent closing torquesaid closing torque being arranged to provide said closing action.

4. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said side cover comprisesan apron arranged to be closingly seated relative orthogonal to theclosed attitude of said top cover; and wherein said guide means isarranged to thrust said apron away from said top cover to clear portionsof said frame and to be so closingly seated; said guide means also beingpivotally coupled to said apron and to said frame and disposed so as tothrust said apron oppositely, toward said top cover, when it approachesa fully-open position to thereby lock it open.

5. A two part cover arrangement comprising:

a frame, a top cover hinged to said frame; a side cover hinged to saidtop cover; a bi-directional suspension means resiliently coupling saidtop cover to said frame so as to provide counterbalancing action andbi-directional locking action therefor; and guide means arranged tocouple said side cover to said frame so as to be thrust in one directionfor guiding said side cover relative said top cover and said frame andso as to be thrust oppositely for resisting the depression of said topcover.

6. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said guide means comprisesa pair of angular arms pivotally coupled to said apron and to one sideof said frame so as to pivot said apron relatively away from said topcover when it is lowered, except adjacent the fully open positionwhereat it thrusts said apron relatively toward said top coverlockingly; a portion of said arms being configured and disposed so as tosupportingly engage said top cover for providing the lock open action.

7. In a High-Speed Printer having a frame including two sidewalls and arear wall defining a top corner-cavity enclosing printing mechanismsaccessible from the front, the combination therewith of a bi-partarticulated cover means there-for, said cover means comprising: a toppivotably hinged to said rear wall and an apron pivotably hinged to saidtop adjacent the pivoting edge thereof; overcentering spring meanscoupling said top to said sidewalls so as to counter-balance said top atall positions except where said top comes closely adjacent saidsidewalls closingly, whereat said spring means urges it closed; andguide means coupling said apron to said sidewalls so as to follow saidtop compactly, to close the front of said printer and to overcenter whensaid top comes adjacent the extreme open condition for locking said topopen.

8. An articulated corner cover arrangement for providing a closure foran operating zone defined by the frame portions of a business machine,said closure being counterbalanced and suspended so as to be selectivelyeither resiliently urged closed, locked open or kept counterbalancedintermediate the closed and open positions, said closure comprising:

a top portion and a side portion; said side portion comprising an apronarranged to be closingly seated relatively orthogonal to the closedattitude of said top portion; guide means pivotably coupled between saidapron and certain of said frame portions and arranged to normally andgradually thrust said apron away from said top portion to clear parts ofsaid frame portions and to be closingly seated; said guide means alsobeing disposed so as to thrust said apron oppositely, toward said topportion, when said top portion approaches a fully-open position tothereby lock it open; a pair of bracket means, one being attacheddependingly from each side of said top portion; hinge means pivotablycoupling a segment of said frame portions to one end of said topportion; bi-directional, resilient, counterbalancing suspension meansresiliently coupling said top portion to said frame portions so as toprovide counterbalancing and bi-directional locking thereof, saidsuspension means including a pair of vertical spring means arranged forurging said closure open and a pair of oblique spring means for urgingsaid closure open except adjacent the closed position thereof whereatthey urge said closure closed, said spring means each including pairs ofsupport shafts arranged to be pivotally coupled in common to one of saidbrackets and also including helical springs arranged to be compressedalong an associated one of said shafts, each support shaft beingpivotally attached to one of said bracket means at one end thereof andbeing slidingly seated in a bracket portion of said frame portionsadjacent the other end thereof, said oblique spring means being disposedrelative said hinge means and associated bracket means so as to resistclosure depression except adjacent the closed position, at which pointit is constructed and disposed so as to overcenter and aid closuredepression.

9. In a data processing machine having a corner aperture defined bythree side walls, the combination therewith of a bi-part articulatedclosure means therefor including a top hinged to a first side wall andan apron, pivotally mounted from said top and arranged to seat closinglyrelatively orthogonal thereto; resilient suspension means coupling saidtop to certain of the others of said side walls, said suspension meansbeing arranged to be resiliently biased as said closure means isdepressed for counter-balancing thereof in equilibrium except adjacentexcursion extremes and being further arranged to otherwise maintain saidclosure fully-open and fullyclosed through opposed locking actions; andguide means pivotally coupled to said apron and to certain of the othersof said side walls and said guide means being extended sufiiciently tocontrollably pivot said apron away from said top during depression ofsaid closure means except adjacent the fully-open position thereof atwhich point said guide means is arranged to thrust said apron towardssaid top lockingly.

10. The combination recited in claim 9 wherein said suspension meanscomprises first spring means for thrusting said top in a first opendirection and second overcentering spring means for aiding said firstspring means except adjacent the fully-closed position Where itovercenters to reverse its thrust direction.

11. The combination recited in claim 9 wherein said guide meanscomprises a pair of angular arms arranged to overcenter so as to locksaid closure open.

12. An articulated corner cover arrangement for providing a closure foran operating zone defined by the frame portions of a business machine,this closure being counterbalanced and suspended by suspension means forresiliently urging it closed as well as locking it open in certainrespective positions, while otherwise maintaining it stablycounterbalanced, said closure comprising a top portion, a side portionand pivot means pivoting coupling said portions, said top portionincluding a pair of bracket means, one attached dependingly from eachside thereof and hinge means pivotably coupling said top portion to saidframe portions at one ,end of said closure, said suspension meanscomprising:

resilient counterbalancing means including vertical spring meanscoupling said closure to said frame portions so as to normally urge itopen; oblique spring means coupling said closure to said frame portionsso as to normally urge it open, except adjacent the closed positionthereof whereat it urges said closure closed; and two pairs of supportmeans, each pair comprising a vertical and an oblique support means,both pivotally coupled in common to a respective one of said bracketmeans, each said support means comprising a longitudinal shaft pivotallyattached at one end to said associated bracket means and, adjacent itsother end, slidingly seated in a seating portion of said frame portions,said oblique support means being adapted to resist closure depressionexcept adjacent said closed position where it assists this depression.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,686,340 8/1954 Shepard et a122035 X 2,849,270 8/1958 Warnock 312-319 X 2,987,355 6/ 1961 Sandefur312-290 X ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A DATA PROCESSING MACHINE HAVING A FAME INCLUDING THREE SIDESDEFINING AN OPERATING OPENING, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF ANARTICULATED BI-PART CLOSURE FOR SAID OPENING AND COMPRISING: A TOP, ASIDE APRON, AND PIVOT MEANS SUSPENDING SAID APRON PIVOTABLY FROM SAIDTOP; HINGE MEANS PIVOTABLY MOUNTING SAID TOP FROM ONE OF SAID SIDES;RESILIENT COUNTER BALANCING SUSPENSION MEANS COUPLING SAID TOP TO ATLEAST ONE OF SAID OTHER SIDES SO AS TO ADAPT SAID CLOSURE FORINTERMEDIATE EQUILIBRIUM AT ALL EXCURSION POINTS THEREOF EXCEPT ADJACENTTHE EXCURSION EXTREMES; AND GUIDE MEANS COUPLING SAID APRON TO AT LEASTONE OF SAID OTHER SIDES PIVOTABLY SO AS TO SEAT CLOSINGLY AGAINST APORTION THEREOF SO AS TO BE GUIDED TO FOLLOW SAID TOP COMPLETELY DURINGMOVEMENT THEREOF.